Having been dealing with scar tissue in my own body and with my horse, I can assure you that as challenging as it may be, it can be managed.
Scar tissue is fibrous connective tissue that forms at the site of a wound or injury as part of the natural healing process, replacing normal tissue that has been damaged.
Although scar tissue is stronger than the original tissue, it has its challenges including limited flexibility, reduced range of motion, impaired function, among others.
Once scar tissue has formed (especially after 18 months), it’s virtually impossible to get rid of. Although a lot of massage therapy schools teach techniques to break it down (friction), the technique itself can be painful, and not proven overly effective.
However, scar tissue does not mean a life of pain. In fact, scar tissue is not painful. Usually it’s the inflammation in tissues around the scar tissue that cause pain, and after such an injury that creates scar tissue, the fear of pain (and fear of moving the injured area) can sometimes be a greater inhibitor of movement than the pain itself.
Additional challenges of scar tissue In conditions like fibrotic myopathy (scar tissue on the hamstring), however, can create compensatory problems in the movement of the horse which can snowball into unhealthy movement patterns and result in pain elsewhere in the body.
Having scar tissue is not a life sentence to living in pain or uncomfortably. Conscious movements and exercises to relieve tension around scar tissue will help promote and support healthy tissues. Manual therapy can help with myofascial release and help with pain relief in the muscles around the site of injury. And, of course, PEMF therapy is a proven modality to help with pain relief and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Additionally, PEMF therapy can also improve pliability of scar tissue, helping to improve its elasticity. If applied during the healing stages, PEMF has been shown to reduce the amount of scar tissue formed.
PEMF is by no means a cure, but it can be an effective means of relief from pain that develops around the injury and throughout the body as a result of compensatory patterns, and improving overall movement and quality of life.
Below was a really interesting discussion on scar tissue looking at the research we have demonstrating the inefficacy of manual therapy (on people) to improve or reduce scar tissue – and how the manual therapies can at least relieve pain and support healthier movement patterns.